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Barta, chopper, economic development in State Fair spotlight

Provost launches ProLog

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Barta, chopper, economic development in fair spotlight

Visitors to The University of Iowa's exhibit at the 2006 Iowa State Fair will have a chance to meet Interim President Gary Fethke and new Athletics Director Gary Barta, see the one-of-a-kind Hawkeye chopper, and learn how the University is working to spur economic development throughout Iowa.

The exhibit also will feature former standout Hawkeye athletes and Herky, displays on everything from space science to public safety, daily drawings for Hawkeye merchandise and tickets, and giveaways such as the ever-popular Hawkeye temporary tattoos and football posters. And to make handing out those 50,000 posters a little easier on volunteers this year, UI graphic design artist Jerry Best has invented a device that rolls posters automatically. To view a QuickTime video of Best demonstrating the device, visit http://itsnt166.iowa.uiowa.edu/uns-archives/2006/august/poster-roller-small.mov.

The UI exhibit is located in the southwest corner of the Varied Industries Building. A full listing of UI events and special appearances scheduled for the run of the fair, Aug. 10-20, is available online at www.uiowa.edu/statefair/schedule.html.

Provost launches ProLog

Michael Hogan, executive vice president and provost of The University of Iowa, has entered ether-space with his ProLog feature on the Office of the Provost web page, http://www.uiowa.edu/~provost/.

“It’s not a blog, but it’s not a formal e-mail or a memo, either,” Hogan says. “It’s kind of a one-way blog where I have a chance to share with my colleagues—faculty, staff, students, friends—some items I think are worthy of interest, celebration, or concern.”

Developed as an alternative to mass e-mails and snail mail, the ProLog gives Hogan a way to inform the UI community without the intrusiveness or annoyance of constant e-mails, or the waste of on-paper communication, Hogan says. He plans to update the ProLog at least once a week.

The ProLog is not an official source of information, however. The Office of the Provost will make required communications in the usual manner.

“The ProLog just gives me a chance to provide some asides for those who are interested in what I might have to say,” Hogan says.